A serologic survey of viral infections in captive ungulates in Turkish zoos

Zoos and zoologic gardens make optimal environments for interspecies transmission of viral infections. There are seven zoos and several small zoologic collections in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the current status of viral infections in captive ungulates living in these environments. Blood samples were taken from 163 captive animals from two zoos. There were 39 Cameroon sheep (Ovis ammon f aries), 11 Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), 57 pygmy goats (Capra hircus), 9 Angora goats (Capra hircus), 21 mountain goats (Capra aegagrus-aegagrus), 7 llamas (Lama glama), 8 Persian goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa), 7 Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral), 2 fallow deer (Dama dama), and 2 camels (Camelus dromedarius). Antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine adenoviruses (BAV-1 and -3), parainfluenzavirus 3 (PI-3), and bluetongue viruses (BTV-4 and -9) were investigated using the virus neutralization test, and malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) antibodies were screened by ELISA. All animals were negative for BVDV and BHV-1 antibodies. Seroprevalence of BAV-1, BAV-3, PI-3, BRSV, BT-4, BT-9, and MCF were detected as follows: 46.6%, 60.1%, 0.6%, 7.3%, 1.8%, 1.2%, and 51.6%, respectively. Seroprevalence of BAVs and MCF were more common than all other viruses (P < 0.0001). Ten sheep (37.0%), 48 goats (84.2), and 1 Ilama (14.2%) were the only species positive for MCF antibodies. Prevalence of BRSV and MCF antibodies were found to be significantly higher in goats than in sheep. BTV antibodies were detected both in Cameroon sheep and mountain goats and suggest that zoo animals are at risk for BTV in endemic regions.     

Improving the lipid profile in hypercholesterolemia-induced rabbit by supplementation of germinated brown rice

It is imperative that there be a diet designed specifically to improve lipid profile in order to impede the progress of atherosclerosis. Because rice is a staple food in Asia, it will be chosen as the diet of interest. This study sets out to discover whether consumption of different processed rice diets may result in a change of the lipid profile. The experiment was done on male New Zealand white rabbits after 10 weeks of treatment with diet containing 0.5% cholesterol. The experimental diets include white rice (WR), brown rice (BR), and germinated brown rice (GBR). Among them, rabbits fed a GBR diet demonstrated significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), LDL/HDL, and atherogenic index (AI) and a higher level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Results from atherosclerotic plaque assessment further support the findings. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), which acts as an indicator for oxidative stress, was also reduced by GBR diet. The positive change in lipid profile in the rabbits fed GBR appeared to correspond with the higher amounts of γ-oryzanol, tocopherol, and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content.     

Analysis and in-plane shear characterization of polyester plain fabric by yarn pull-out method

The aim of this study was to determine the in-plane shear properties of polyester fabric by the pull-out method and analytical relations were developed to calculate the shearing properties. After the yarn in the fabric was pulled from the top ravel region before the start of the crimp extension stage, it was found that fabric shear strength and rigidity increased when the number of pulled ends increased. In addition, when the fabric width and length increased, fabric shear strength and rigidity increased. On the other hand, the shear strength and rigidity values in untreated fabric were high compared to that of treated fabric due to the fabric treatments by softening agent. It was observed that fabric sample dimensions and the number of pull-out ends as well as the fabric treatments influenced fabric shear strength and rigidity. Also, the shear jamming angles were found to be based on the number of pulled ends. Fabric local shearing properties could be identified by pulling the yarn ends in various regions of the fabric. This could be important for the handling of the fabric during formation. The results generated from this study showed that polyester fabric shear could be measured by the yarn pull-out test.     

Dimensional and mechanical characterization of newly developed denim fabrics based on experimentally determined property-structural pattern relations for upholstery applications

The aim of this study was to develop new pattern denim fabrics and characterize the dimensional, the abrasion and pilling properties of these fabrics. Furthermore, tensile and tear strengths of these fabrics were determined. The potential enduses of pattern denim fabrics were evaluated by comparing the test results with traditional denim fabrics. The produced fabrics were classified as ‘Design group I’ and ‘Design group II’. In design group I, the fabrics had small structural patterns whereas the structural patterns of the fabrics of design group II were large. The dimensional properties and weights of developed pattern denim fabrics in both of the design groups were different in terms of weft densities, structural pattern sizes which influenced the numbers, directions and distributions of warp-weft interlacement. The abrasion behaviours of the traditional denim fabrics and the fabrics with large-small structural patterns were similar. However, it was determined that the fabrics with large and small patterns were abraded on the earlier abrasion cycles compared to the traditional denim fabrics. The pilling resistances of the fabrics not only depended on the hairiness levels of the yarns used during weaving, but also on the pattern sizes of the fabrics. The small structural pattern fabrics showed more resistance to pilling than those of the large structural pattern fabrics. There was a decrease on the warp and weft tensile strengths of the large structural pattern fabrics in comparison with the traditional denim fabrics. The average tear strengths of the large structural pattern denim fabrics on the warp course were higher than those of the traditional denim fabrics while the tear strengths of the large pattern and traditional denim fabrics on the weft course were similar to each other. The end-uses of the newly developed structural pattern denim fabrics were recommended as home textile.     

Analysis and off-axis tensile characterization of air-entangled textured polyester woven fabrics depending on unit cell interlacing frequency

The aim of this study is to analyze and determine the off-axis tensile properties of air-entangled textured polyester fabrics based on unit cell interlacing frequency. For this purpose, continuous filament polyester air-entangled textured yarn was used to produce plain, ribs and satin woven fabrics. The fabrics were cut from the warp direction (0°) to weft direction (90°) at every 15° increment, and tensile tests were applied to those of the off-axis samples. The strength and elongation results were introduced to the statistical model developed, and regression analyses were carried out. Hence, the effects of off-axis loading and interlacement on the directional tensile properties of the fabric were investigated. The regression model showed that off-axis loading influences fabric tensile strength. On the other hand, interlacement frequency is the most important factor for fabric tensile elongation. The results from the regression model were compared with the measured values. This study confirmed that the method used in this study as can be a viable and reliable tool. Future research will concentrate on multiaxially directional fabric and the probability that it will result in homogeneous in-plane fabric properties.     

Evaluation of PCR methods for detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella</Emphasis> strains from culture and tissues

The genus Brucella causes significant economic losses due to infertility, abortion, stillbirth or weak calves, and neonatal mortality in livestock. Brucellosis is still a zoonosis of public health importance worldwide. The study was aimed to optimize and evaluate PCR assays used for the diagnosis of Brucella infections. For this aim, several primers and PCR protocols were performed and compared with Brucella cultures and biological material inoculated with Brucella. In PCR assays, genus- or species-specific oligonucleotide primers derived from 16S rRNA sequences (F4/R2, Ba148/928, IS711, BruP6-P7) and OMPs (JPF/JPR, 31ter/sd) of Brucella were used. All primers except for BruP6-P7 detected the DNA from reference Brucella strains and field isolates. In spiked blood, milk, and semen samples, F4-R2 primer-oriented PCR assays detected minimal numbers of Brucella. In spiked serum and fetal stomach content, Ba148/928 primer-oriented PCR assays detected minimal numbers of Brucella. Field samples collected from sheep and cattle were examined by bacteriological methods and optimized PCR assays. Overall, sensitivity of PCR assays was found superior to conventional bacteriological isolation. Brucella DNA was detected in 35.1, 1.1, 24.8, 5.0, and 8.0% of aborted fetus, blood, milk, semen, and serum samples by PCR assays, respectively. In conclusion, PCR assay in optimized conditions was found to be valuable in sensitive and specific detection of Brucella infections of animals.     

Seroprevalence of canine herpesvirus-1 in Turkish dog population

Canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) is the agent of reproductive and respiratory disorders in adult dogs, and the infection generally results in haemorrhagic disease conditions and neonatal death. In this study, virus neutralisation test that used complement (VNT) as well as in-house ELISA were utilised to investigate the CHV-1 seroprevalence in the Turkish dog population. Among the 560 serum samples, 39.3% of the samples tested by ELISA were CHV-1 positive while 29.4% of the samples tested by VNT were CHV-1 positive. Compared to the individual dogs (39.0%), there was a higher CHV-1 seroprevalence (62.1%) found in the colony dogs (62.1%) (p = 0.0002). However, there was an insignificant difference between male and female dogs. Although the highest antibody prevalence (56.7%) was found in Golden Retrievers, there were no significant variations detected among the dog breeds used in this study. Neutralizing antibody titres were very low (?1:16) in a high portion of the tested animals, confirming the rapid decrease of CHV-1 antibodies after the course of infection. The results of this study show that CHV-1 seroprevalence is moderately high in the Turkish dog population.     

Interpretation of Leaf Analysis Performed in Early Vegetation in Apple Orchards

Mid-summer leaf analyses are commonly used as the standard method worldwide to assess the nutritional status of fruit trees. It may be too late to correct nutritional disorders by mid-summer. In this study, reference values that will be used to evaluate the nutritional status of apple trees early in the growing season were derived. To determine the reference values for all sampling periods, the regression curves were created by using the reference values of each period. Correlations were examined between the sixth period and earlier sampling times. The presence of statistically significant correlation coefficients was interpreted as leaf analysis can be used to determine the nutritional status of apples in the early season. It was concluded that leaf analysis can be carried out anytime from commencing two weeks after full loom to lasting 98 days after full bloom for all elements except Iron and Cupper.     

Evidence of bovine immunodeficiency virus in cattle in Turkey

A seroepidemiological study of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infections was conducted in four different cattle herds in Turkey. A total of 300 blood samples were analyzed and 12.3% were found to be positive for anti-BIV p26 antibodies by Western blot analysis and 1.6% positive for anti-BLV gp51 antibodies by an immunodiffusion test. BIV infection was confirmed with the detection of BIV-provirus DNA using the nested polymerase chain reaction. This is the first evidence for the presence of BIV in cattle in Turkey.     

鸟类行为研究进展

鸟类行为可分为繁殖行为，取食行为，社群行为和空间行为四大类，本文概述了鸟类行为的研究内容，研究方法和国内外研究现状，其中，繁殖行为包括：1）配偶选择，配偶制度，配偶维持时间的长短和配偶制度与资源质量的关系；2）栖息地选择和筑巢行为；3）鸣叫类型及意义。4）求偶炫耀及意义，取食行为包括：1）觅食策略的进化；2）形态相似且分布相同地理区域鸟类取食方式的差异3）觅食节律，社群行为包括：1）集群行为与栖息地食物丰富度及天敌的关系；2）集群利益分析，空间行为包括：1）防御行为；2）巢区领域防御对繁殖成功率的影响；3）迁徙研究。